Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-06-07
THE PURE WINE LAW AND LABELS

THE PURE WINE LAW AND LABELS.
The pure wine law went into effect yes
terday. 1t is an Act of the Legislature of
this State, approved March 7, 1887, pro-
hibiting the sophistication and adultera-
tion of wine, and to prevent fraud in its
sale and manufacture.
The law defines pure wine; prohibits
the use Of certain coloring agents; con-
dennis the use in fermentation and pre-
servation of materials injurious to the con-
sumer; specifies what is permissible to do
IN fermenting and preserving; designates
what it shall be unlawful to sell as wine,
intending to legalize only the sale of pure
wine as defined by the Act; expressly ex-
cludes clearly stamped or marked foreign
vine packages from the operation of the
law; affixes penalties for violations Of the
Act; provides for recovery Of damages in
case of fraud in selling wine; gives per-
mission to Use certain sweetening agents
Va h8htt, nlhtS DIU-
vides that labels shall be furnished by the
Controller of State certifying packages to
contain pure California wine, and affixes
severe penalty for fraudulently using the
labels; requires them to he SO placed that
on opening the package they will be
broken and provides that such labels shall
be used only in this State
The frauds in California wines at the
East have been so great and so bold-faced
that the reputation of our product has
suffered serious decadence and was threat
ened with destruction. If the new law is
rigidly enforced; if the wine makers and
dealers prove true to the law and their
own best interests, they will very soon
witness the overthrow of all the wine
frauds. II will not take the Eastern pub
lie long to discover the pure wines of Cali
torRia, and to distinguish between them
and the spurious, for under this law they
will be able to judge in all cases of doubt,
from base of purity certified under law.
OF course, if dealers outside of the State
prove rascally, as many have in the past,
the label law will not wholly protect our
product. But California producers who
select their own agents, those they can
implicitly trust, can defeat the frauds.
it was urged by the New York press year
sgo that the California producers should
establish their own agencies at the East ;
but not in all cases can this be done; not
all producers can afford the cost involved,
though it would seem that by cooperation
the end desired could be attained. But
the label law will go long way toward
improving the California wine market
abroad. 1t will be accepted there as a
guarantee that the labeled packages con-
tain wine that the people of California
IN their representative capacity have de-
lined to be pure and free from deleterious
substances Yet it must be confessed that
this guarantee is dependent wholly upon
the risk dealer may choose 90 take of
being detected in putting the label upon
goods not pure within the definition of
the law. While it is possible to coun-
terfeit the label, and to fraudulently use
At, yet the knowledge at the East that the
self-interest OF all California producers
FAUST incline them to watch sharply for
and defeat dishonesty in the premises,
and that they will be induced by common
and commemorate selfishneSs to secure en-
forcement of the law, viii go far towards
inspiring public confidence in the pack
ages bearing the States labels.
There are two classes of labels. one for
barrels and one for bottles. They are pc
culiar in design, of two colors, not in
yoived in printing or engraving, and of a
character to be readily recognized, SO that
to the public they will presently become
very familiar. Counterfeiting while pos
sible, viii be difficult, for the designs en-
brace detective devices difficult 10 exactly
duplicate
II the label law will check the fraud
OF palming off cheap, impure and doctored
products for California wines. it will
greatly benefit our wine makers, and
prove protection to people At the East
who drink wines, against physical injury
inseparable from consumption of com
pounded wine cheats. The reputation of
California wine viii in consequence rise
abroad, and as result consumption of it
will increase, the demand be augmented
and viticultural interests in California be
proportionately benefited and stimulated.
The law has now gone into effect The
result will be looked for with great inter-
est In this State, but must not be expected
to be manifest for some months TO come.
The chief thing needed for the rigid en-
forcement of the law and the develop
ment OF Its anticipated benefits, is union
Of sentiment and action regarding the law
and the use of the labels among the wine
makers of California, and honesty in their